Treatment of Psychological Disorders Psychological disorders and their treatments have been studied and reformed for decades. These disorders are complex and involve many different elements. Psychological disorders can have different origins, such as poor genes as well as a number of environmental components including development, parenting, and trauma. Risk factors may direct doctors to diagnose a patient with a psychological disorder; however, these risk factors can be vague and cause a variety of problems. Disorders can be prevented and treated with physical exercise and social activity; but there are numerous pharmacological and brain manipulation therapies that are effective in treating these disorders. The mystery of psychological disorders can be understood when their origins and prevention are investigated. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay To first identify a disorder, you must first identify normal behavior from deviant behavior. A general psychological disorder can be defined as a syndrome characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior. Two different approaches to deviance influence our understanding of the origins of psychological disorders. The first is the biopsychosocial approach; this is an integrated approach that incorporates biology, psychology, and socio-cultural levels of analysis to determine whether someone has a psychological disorder. The second approach is the medical model that illustrates psychological disorders as a consequence of the disease; these disorders can be diagnosed, treated and cured in hospital. The medical model was created in the 1800s when syphilis was discovered to impair brain function. Many psychologists, such as the French doctor Philippe Pinel, have pushed for reform of the treatment of psychiatric patients. There are numerous types of psychological disorders classified in the American Psychiatric Association's (ASA) 2013 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. To treat a patient with a psychological disorder, it is important to first classify the disorder to determine the appropriate treatment. Doctors are able to communicate thoroughly with each other to provide relief to the client. Another advantage of the classification is that a psychologist can predict the future course of the disorder. The classification can also stimulate research into the causes of psychological disorders. However, some psychologists criticize the use of classifying these disorders. One criticism is that mental disorders in the ASA manual are vague. Many disorders have symptoms that to some extent represent normal behavior or that can be used to identify more than one disorder. Furthermore, critics claim that diagnostic labels are subjective and value judgments masquerading as science. A study conducted by David Rosenhan in 1973 illustrates these problems. The study of “pseudo patients” revealed that healthy patients can be misdiagnosed based on the symptoms they say they have. Labeling patients with psychological disorders can also put them at risk. Patients may experience an inability to work or rent housing. Classifying disorders can be useful; however, this potentially harms a patient and can prevent them from living normally. There are many factors that can protect an individual from developing a psychological disorder. One factor is genetics. Behavioral genetics is the study of the power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior. Genes, small segments of the DNA molecule, provide the code for elementsconstituents of the body that create the genome. A person's environment can activate these genes. Epigenetics studies the molecular mechanisms through which environments can trigger or block genetic expression. However, twin and adoption studies show that biological similarities are stronger than the adoptive environment with respect to behavior. The prenatal environment can also determine how genes develop. Tetragons such as smoking, alcohol or pollution can negatively affect the body during pregnancy. Disorders such as fetal alcohol syndrome can lead to serious problems later. A mother who has been under a lot of stress during pregnancy may also increase the chances of her child suffering from high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and psychiatric disorders. Childhood development can also lead to the development of psychological disorders. Childhood development has many different aspects, the first of which is parenting. Different types of parenting can shape a child's behavior. In one experiment, it was shown that monkeys prefer a parent who is warm and comforting rather than one who simply feeds them. The same goes for humans. Body contact is extremely important for a child's normal and healthy development. This leads to a secure attachment with a caregiver. Young children seek closeness to their parents and experience distress when separated. Early attachments form a solid foundation for adult relationships. Insecure attachment can lead to other problems. A child may be indifferent to a parent's presence or not be soothed by the parent's presence. This can lead to problems with adult relationships. Parenting styles have a great influence on a child's traits. An authoritarian parent is coercive. When this parenting style is used, the child usually has low self-esteem and lacks strong social skills. However, this parenting style tends to be used when a child is in a dangerous environment. A second parenting style is the permissive one, characterized by a lack of moderation. These children tend to experience fewer demands and less severe punishments, if any at all. Children with this type of parenting have a tendency to be aggressive and immature. According to two different studies conducted in Germany, permissive parenting can lead to poorer outcomes in adult life. The last type of parenting is authoritarian and tends to involve confrontation with the child. Psychologists say this parenting style is “right.” This parenting style encourages open discussion and allows for some exceptions. Children with this type of parenting style have strong social skills and are self-sufficient. Two different psychologists have created developmental stages according to which if a stage is not completed, the child cannot fully develop. Erikson's stages of psychosocial development involve the development of basic trust, the exercise of will, the initiation of tasks, pleasure from application, and role confusion. Each of these phases occurs over a three-year period and if not adequately promoted can create problems for adult relationships. The other developmental stages were created by Sigmund Freud. The psychosexual stages of personality development were said to be those in which the pleasure-seeking energies of the id were concentrated. These areas are oral, anal, phallic, latency and finally genital. As with Erikson's stages, if these developmental stages were not focused on, a child may develop a fixation or persistent focus on the developmental stage. This leads to unresolved conflicts. Risk factors are brought up that can helppsychologists to classify a patient with a psychological disorder. Some of these signs are reading difficulties, academic failure, family disorganization, parental mental illness, stressful life events. Physical illnesses such as neurochemical imbalances, low birth weight, and pregnancy complications can all indicate psychological disorders. Characteristics of someone who potentially has a disorder are unusual behavior, substance abuse, changes in sleep and appetite, nervousness, and mood changes. There are many ways a person can prevent a psychological disorder. The human brain and body were designed for both social engagement and physical activity. Therefore, there are certain goals that a person should achieve for the proper functioning of the brain and body. The first way is to get thirty minutes of aerobic exercise about three times a week. Seven to eight hours of sleep per night is extremely important. Most people don't get the amount of sleep they need. It is also important to allow thirty minutes of natural light exposure in the morning. A daily fish oil supplement with Omege-3 fatty acids also helps the brain function properly. To satisfy our need for social engagement and improve emotional health there are two things that lead to healthy functioning. Two meaningful social interactions per day as well as identifying and redirecting negative thoughts to positive ones. These goals are also effective in providing relief from depression. 77% of people successfully reduce depression this way. It is very important to deal with stress and recover from adversity. Stress can cause numerous health problems and even explain some psychological disorders. Struggling with challenges can sometimes lead to post-traumatic growth. Poverty, meaningless work, constant criticism, unemployment, racism and sexism can undermine one's sense of competence, personal control and self-esteem. You can reduce stress through exercise, meditation and relaxation. Research also shows that people with a strong faith tend to have reduced stress and a better outlook on life. If a person is diagnosed with a psychological disorder, there are many different types of drug therapies and psychotherapies that can be used to treat the person. There are four types of drug therapies that can be used to treat all psychological disorders. Antipsychotics, such as thorazine, mimic the neurotransmitter dopamine which affects movement, learning, attention and emotions. Antipsychotics reduce overreactions to irrelevant stimuli. When antipsychotics are combined with life-killing programs and family support, they are very successful in treating schizophrenia. Side effects of antipsychotics include sluggishness, twitching, and tremors. Anxiolytic drugs such as Xanax or Ativan depress the central nervous system. These medications are generally used in combination with behavioral therapy. However, anxiety is not very effective; reduces symptoms without solving the problem. Additionally, withdrawal symptoms increase anxiety and lead to insomnia. Recently, psychologists have been giving antidepressants to patients with anxiety. Antidepressants, such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil, increase norepinephrine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters promote the birth of new brain cells. It is usually 75% effective, unless the patient is severely depressed. When combined with cognitive therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, the effectiveness increases. Antidepressants are also used for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder.